What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
A new exhibition, called Victory, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
We are delighted to let you know that our latest exhibition, the Mighty Hercules, is now open. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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#Extraordinaryaircraft
Help us build a home for our #extraordinaryaircraft
Our Lockheed C-130H (NZ) Hercules and P-3K2 Orion have had long-term preservation work completed so they can be safely stored while we work on plans for a new permanent exhibition space large enough to house them.
Measuring 29.8m from nose to tail, with a wingspan of 40.5m and a tail soaring to just under 11m high, the Hercules is too large for our current exhibition halls. The Orion is almost as tall and even longer – stretching to 36m thanks to its submarine-detecting tail boom.
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Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
We were sorry to have to charge after being free for so many years, but the charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $16 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
MUSTANG COLIN: A few short years ago a very young Colin Pitkethley was on the boundary fence of RNZAF Station Ohakea when a flight of RNZAF North American Mustangs took off, roaring overhead.
He’s been a fan of the aircraft ever since and will be voting Mustang when this year’s annual Air Force Museum of New Zealand Aircraft of the Year competition takes off in November.
Colin’s glimpse of the Mustangs made a lasting impression, and he’s been in love with aircraft ever since.
In 1968 he had completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner when he joined the RNZAF and stayed on for a 20-year career.
“I loved the camaraderie and the companionship and it fitted with my fascination with aircraft. I’ve always loved Mustangs, and Dakotas, but there’s nothing like the sound of a Mustang to me.’’
Over his RNZAF years postings took him to Wigram, Woodbourne, Wigram, Ohakea, Hobsonville and finally back to Woodbourne again.
Among the many jobs he took on was the construction of our Harvard gate guard plinth, and he says his name, along with all the other tradesmen who built it, is still on the inside of it.
Colin retired as a sergeant in 1988 and then began a long career in the Marlborough wine industry.
Thank you for your service, Colin, and for visiting your museum.
#aircraftoftheyear #mustang #p51mustang ... See MoreSee Less
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NEW WEEK, NEW COMPETITION: This week we've got a tricky one for the RNZAF motoring fans - it's called OnlyVans.
The aim of the game is to correctly identify the make and model of our heavily disguised RNZAF van of yesteryear. Naming the airfield earns a bonus!
Put your answer in the comments below or, for a confidential service, email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz.
All correct answers go in the draw to win an exclusive Air Force Museum of New Zealand coffee mug. They're round with roundels!
OnlyVans is a celebration of the mighty but most humble RNZAF machineof all, the van.
Since the early days airfield vans have shifted important stuff, moved awkwardly-sized air cadets, and reached improbably high speeds around airfields in the interests of research.
We salute all our vans! ... See MoreSee Less
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1974 (ish) Toyota Hiace, at a guess. Fun wee things, when you jammed on the breaks you could lift the back wheels on a good day! Ha!
The mighty 1st gen Toyota Hi Ace. Maybe doing the pay run...
A Toyota Hi Ace Van Looks like Wigram
Toyota Hi Ace, Wigram. Think I can see Gibraltar Peak on the Port Hills.
Reminds of the 1st inflight refuelling moving station for a record breaking non stop flight. Probably a Dodge not a Toyota Hi Ace. America won that one?
Toyota Hiace van circa 64/65 Wigram airfield. Myself and Arthur Brean drove one around the south on the Queen mothers tour
Mid 70s Toyota hi ace swb. I learned to drive in the lwb version
That is a Toyota Hiace, and those are the Port Hills, so airfield is Wigram.
Third time lucky what size was the engine
First generation HiAce. My father bought one in 1976 and used it for the rural mail delivery in Collingwood, Golden Bay. I actually learned to drive in it! Not sure where it came from, but it was Japanese market model. It was far superior to the Commer van that it replaced. The HiAce even had ABS brakes. Looks like the photo is taken at Wigram.
Bonus for 10 what size wose the engine
One of the Army ones came into Shelly Bay workshop 72 ish it was following a scaffolding truck in town, the truck turned right and the van went to under take him the scaffolding poles went right through the front panels windscreen and drivers door, The Army driver was unharmed , how ,we couldnt work out.
1974 Toyota HiAce van. I cheated and looked up the rego on car jam to get the year!
Toyota HiAce.
Toyota Hi Ace, Wigram. I didn’t cheat, I’ve been there.
1974 Toyota Hiace RH11V series, Wigram
1971/72 Toyota Hi-Ace van.
Is Eric Idle and John Cleese on staff?
Toyota HiAce - Woodbourne
Nissan Caravan at Ardmore ?
Toyota Hi Ace at Wigram Airforce base.
Toyota HiAce at Woodbourne airfield.
1974 Toyota HiAce. One of three registered that year. Question now is, did the RNZAF have all three? Please Air Force Museum of New Zealand I need to know!
Stephen Lord Chappington Chapman Joshua Benck you guys already know about OnlyVans I'm sure
Original Toyota Hi Ace
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WE HAVE A WINNER! Take a bow Jason Chuah, winner of this week’s competition.
Json took one look at our mystery aircraft and ship photo and scorched in with his answer: A Douglas A-4K Skyhawk for the aircraft and its manufacturer, and the ship was HMAS Adelaide (HMAS 01), an Adelaide-class guided missile frigate. The Adelaide class was a modified version of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate.
Please email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz Jason and we will fire up the Bristol Freighter and fly out your fantastic prize – an exclusive Air Force Museum of New Zealand roundel mug – as soon as we can.
The idea for this competition came from a recent visitor, Dave Messenger, who served in the Royal Australian Navy aboard the Adelaide. Dave loved seeing our Skyhawk – which rekindled his memories of exercises with the RNZAF aircraft.
Dave served from 1988 to 1997. He completed two tours to the Persian Gulf aboard the HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Melbourne.
Thanks for your service, Dave, for the competition idea, and for visiting. Congratulations Jason!
#HMASAdelaide #royalaustraliannavy #rnzafpastandpresent
#mysteryship #mysteryshipandaircraft ... See MoreSee Less
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